Too big? Road safety coalition want review of pickup trucks, SUVs
Coalition wants Ontario chief coroner to investigate evidence that larger vehicles are involved in more traffic fatalities
The coalition has asked Ontario Chief Coroner Dr. Dirk Huyer to investigate evidence — much of it out of the United States — that these larger vehicles are involved in more traffic fatalities and to make recommendations to promote road safety.
“Our review of Toronto Police Service data for 2021 shows that in the 20 pedestrian and cyclist deaths where the motor vehicle was identified, 45% were killed by pickups and SUVs, compared to 20% by conventional cars,” the coalition says in a letter to the coroner.
Albert Koehl, an environmental lawyer and coordinator of the Community Bikeways Coalition, one of the groups involved in the request of the coroner, said automakers have been hyping these large vehicles despite no proof that the extra size is needed by the vast majority of motorists.
The vehicles increase the danger for not only cyclists and pedestrians, but also drivers in smaller vehicles who might then be tempted to bump up to a pickup or SUV in response, he said.
“We all lose from what’s been called an arms race,” Koehl said Wednesday. “If everyone rushes to get a bigger vehicle because they feel personally safer, well there’s going to be someone else on the receiving end, so to speak, of a crash. And as a community we can’t say we’re going to prioritize the people who are in the biggest vehicles and don’t worry about the people who are in smaller vehicles or on foot or on bikes.”
Koehl said they are not pre-judging what, if any, recommendations a coroner might make but did provide some options suggested by experts.
The coalition is not speaking about smaller crossover SUVs, but rather the heavier and higher versions, he said.
The blunt nose of many of these vehicles make it harder to see other road users and the design often includes blind spots, he said.
While some of these vehicles are used for work, Koehl said people have been able to function in the past with smaller pickup trucks than are currently seen on the road.
“We know these vehicles are growing to a tremendous size without any greater utility,” he said.
In its letter to the coroner, the coalition also asks for a death review for heavy commercial vehicles, such as dump and cement trucks, based on their involvement in a high number of fatalities.
